Does anyone work in the Data-capture business?

By data capture i mean capturing names and addresses from application forms and junkmail returns that the public sends in.

If you do, then please give me your opinion:

Would you be interested in a Visual Basic control that converts CSV's, Tab delimited files and fixed width files, into one of the other types for example:

From CSV to tab Delimited
From Tab delimited to Fixed width
from Fixed width to CSV
etc...

You will be able to specify source file and destination file paths, start and finish record numbers (ie top 30% will be converted, or from 504th record through 12,544th record, etc...)

i know the place i used to work at would hack off their own limbs to get something like that.

So do you think it would be of any use to your company?

When I have finished this project i will give a free copy to you if you want it.

Whaddya think?

[mikef]

I am not sure what the tab, CSV and all that is, but I would DEFINTELY be interested in a program that captured e-mail address from e-mails or other things. That kinda program would be quite useful. Let me know when you get it done, i would like to take a look at it!

...later

Here's a quick run-down:

CSV (aka comma-delimited) means Comma Separated Values this is an example:
"aaaaaaa","bb","cccc","ddddddddddd","eeeeeeee","ffffff"
(the "," pattern is commonly used so that the computer doesnt mistake a comma in the data, for a delimiter. the
double quotes are reffered to as 'qualifiers')

Tab Delimited (same as above but uses the Tab character instead of 'quote-comma-quote'
aaaaaaa bb cccc ddddddddddd eeeeeeee ffffff

Fixed width, this format typically takes up more filespace unless all of the data fields are very short:
aaaaaaa bb cccc ddddddddddd eeeeeeee ffffff
this format can be mistaken for tab delimited if you don't look closely, the first field is 20 characters long
the second field is 12 long, third is 18, then 13, then 14, then 6.

*************************

Extracting emails from data is not what this was designed for, but if you know which field the email is in, then
it will pick it up anyway.

Actually you have just given me an idea! i might add an option to let the user decide which fields to write in
the new file. hmmmm, and maybe in which order, hmmmm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Anyone else interested?

[kmchong]

wossname,
are you talking about something which convert one file (disregard what format it is, say DIF) to another format (another format, say CSV), and allow user to remap the position and select records by specifying the range range?

It will transform any delimited file into a fixed width file or vice-versa. I have decided against simply changing the delimiter, because any chimp with a pc can do that, therefore no-one would pay for it.

So instead I am just sticking to changing between delimiters and Fixed width files.

You will also be able to re-map fields, yes.

I am having some major stress with a For/next loop at the moment so I'll have to get that done soon!

Yeeeehaw!

i got it nearly finished.

it does all of these things:

1. switch between delimited file and fixed width, with or without field remap
2. remap fixed width files
3. remap delimited files with or without changing the delimiter

anyone still interested?

[mikef]

Still interested. Tell me where and how to get a copy...i would like to check it out.

great,
I'll get a brief web page set up where you can download it, please bear with me, it'll be worth it, trust me!

I'll write a readme file for it too, so you can get started fast!

I'll post the web addy here soon.

For those of you that read my previous posts about my new activex control, you can download it free here:

www.castleftarc.com/dc4.zip

It is a demo however, and it has an irritating message box that pops up evert yime you wanna use it! If you want a full version without the message, please send me some money! I don't care how much, whatever you feel necessary!


Let me know what you guys think!

PS. I'll post the full version over the weekend at the same addy, free! I changed my mind about money.

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

Free is good, but I don't think I'll be downloading it.

Money is better *cough*for me anyway*cough*.

digital, won't you even give it a try, for me?